Krakow's historic center, declared World Heritage Site in 1978, is divided into three distinct areas: the hill of Wawel, the medieval city of Krakow, the medieval heart of Kazimierz.

In the center is the Rynek Glowny or Market Square or Market Square (as it has a rectangular market in the middle), large for its construction date [1] and numerous churches such as Holy Mary Basilica (Kościół Mariacki) (with two uneven towers), the Church of St. Wojciech and other national treasures such as Sukiennice (which is a market for textiles and carvings that also houses several shops, restaurants but also the National Art Museum in Krakow. There is also the Barbican, a defensive tower that was part of a network of fortifications surrounding the city, and Wawel Castle. The city is circular.

Here are the Wawel Royal Castle and the Cathedral of St. Wenceslas and St. Stanislaus.

The Wawel Royal Castle has been home of most of the kings of Poland. Originally it was a Gothic castle, but was thoroughly renovated between 1506 and 1537 under the direction of Italian architects. It is a three-story building, adorned with arches, consisting of four wings surrounding a central courtyard. Among the many works of art it houses, stands a collection of tapestries made in Brussels in the second half of the sixteenth century a total of 356 tapestries seconservan only 136 today.

In the Cathedral of St. Wenceslas and St. Stanislaus are buried the kings of Poland. Built between 1320 and 1364, is a Gothic church with three naves and transept, apse and ambulatory. Was further enhanced with 18 funeral chapels Renaissance side, most notably that of Sigismund I, considered the masterpiece of Renaissance art in Poland.

The walled medieval city of Cracow (Stare Miasto) has a rich architecture, with beautiful examples of Renaissance, Baroque and Gothic. The high surrounding fortifications were built between the XII and XIV.

The Market Square (Rynek Glowny), 200 feet square, built in the middle of the thirteenth century, is the largest in Europe. At its core is the large market of fabrics, XIV century Renaissance building now occupied by souvenir shops. On the east side of the square stands the Basilica of Santa Maria and the statue of Adam Mickiewicz.

The churches and palaces of Kraków show a wealth of color with architectural details such as stained glass, paintings and sculptures. Emphasize the town hall tower, built in 1383 and the church of the Assumption of Our Lady, with three naves and two towers cover, which was built in 1360 and is a magnificent example of Gothic Polish.

To the southwest are the oldest buildings, which belong to the Jagiellonian University, founded in 1364 by Casimir III.